CAP LOCK KEY

Text in newsgroups and other internet forums has been considered as shouting for much longer than I have been involved in Usenet forums and the later newsgroups (i.e. since the mid 1990s.) back in those days members would be sidelined for continually posting in all capitals. I did a search on Copilot regarding the subject and received the following:

Q.. Please advise on the use of capital letters in internet newsgroups being regarded as shouting.

A.. Ah, the classic caps-lock conundrum!

In internet etiquette, using all capital letters in newsgroups, forums, or emails is often interpreted as shouting. While it's not a hard-and-fast rule, the general consensus is that it comes off as aggressive and can be off-putting to readers.

Here are a few reasons why:

Tone: CAPITAL LETTERS can be perceived as loud or angry, even if that's not the intention.

Readability: Text in all caps is harder to read because it lacks the visual cues provided by lowercase letters.

Social Norms: Over time, the online community has adopted this norm to maintain a polite and constructive tone in discussions.

To communicate clearly and respectfully, it's best to use capital letters sparingly, such as for emphasising a single word or an acronym. Keeping most of the text in lowercase will make your messages more readable and convey a friendlier tone.

Copilot also suggested a few more topics on the subject:

Q.. When is it acceptable to use capital letters?

A.. Great question! Capital letters can be quite effective when used appropriately. Here are some instances where using capital letters is acceptable:

Acronyms: Common acronyms like NASA, FAQ, or ASAP are usually written in all caps.

Proper Nouns: Names of people, places, organizations, and titles (e.g., Microsoft, Sydney Opera House, President).

Emphasis: To emphasize a particular word or phrase, but use this sparingly to avoid coming across as shouting.

Headings and Titles: For clarity and to draw attention to sections or titles in documents.

Legal Documents: Legal and formal documents often use all caps for important terms and definitions.

Creative Expression: In artistic and creative contexts, such as poetry or design, where style plays a significant role.

Using capital letters in these contexts ensures clarity and effective communication without the risk of being misunderstood.

And another:

Q.. How does capitalisation impact the clarity of my writing?

A.. Capitalisation can significantly impact the clarity and effectiveness of your writing in several ways:

Readability: Proper capitalisation helps readers quickly distinguish between different types of words, such as proper nouns, acronyms, and the beginnings of sentences. This makes your text easier to read and understand.

Emphasis: Capitalisation can be used to emphasise specific words or phrases, making them stand out to the reader. This can help draw attention to important points or key information.

Professionalism: Correct capitalisation demonstrates attention to detail and a good grasp of grammar, which can make your writing appear more polished and professional.

Distinguishing Proper Nouns: Capitalising proper nouns (names of people, places, organisations, etc.) helps clearly identify them and avoid confusion with common nouns. For example, "Apple" (the company) is distinguished from "apple" (the fruit).

Consistency: Consistent use of capitalisation helps maintain a uniform style throughout your writing, which enhances overall coherence and readability.

Here's a simple example to illustrate the difference:

Without proper capitalisation: "jane went to the university of sydney to meet with dr. smith."

With proper capitalisation: "Jane went to the University of Sydney to meet with Dr. Smith."

The second sentence is clearer and more professional due to the correct use of capitalisation.

Should be OK if someone has a HEARING problem and that's a lot of people. IF I get KICKED OFF anything for using capS inappropriately WHich is pretty pedantic then it was already time to GO.
It's just as bad as people complaining about punctuation or spelling we all get it wrong. You can help someone correct it no worries but if it's an obsession that really gets under your skin then maybe look at fixing that first.
Oh there's a ladder in my way now do I walk under or around it ?

My Two Cents Worth.

Back in the 1960’s when I was at high school, (yes I am old), one of my subjects was typing. We were taught that capital letters should be used for starting a sentence, a paragraph, a name, an acronym, or as a heading, it can also be used to emphasise a particular word or phrase.

We were also taught that using all capital letters in general text was considered as being “unprofessional”, the same as using all block letters/capitals when hand writing a letter. It has only been in more recent times with the advent of computers and “keyboard” communication that all capital letters has been considered as the equivalent of shouting.

What all this has to do with Exploroz, I am not sure.

Macca.

It can also help the visually impaired so it has it's benefits. Thank you the large lettering made your message so much easier to read I didn't have to put my glasses on.

Oh no more capital letters it's not just us it must a pandemic getting out of hand.